The Role of AI and blockchain in combating academic fraud

Educational fraud poses an enormous threat to universities across the globe by concurrently violating academic standards and diminishing educational qualifications. This research studied how AI together with blockchain technology works to reduce academic cheating among Nigerian institutions with particular attention on the University of Ibadan and the University of Abuja. The research technique combined qualitative methods with quantitative approaches to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Students alongside faculty members and administrators and developers of AI/blockchain solutions received Google Form surveys about their opinions regarding the use of these technologies to maintain academic integrity. The research discovered that plagiarism in connection with dishonest examination conduct represents the principal methods students use to cheat in their studies. The implementation of AI-powered plagiarism detection systems proved to be the most successful measure among other interventions and blockchain technology showed promise for secure credential authentication. The study utilized one-way ANOVA to show that blockchain feasibility received different responses from participants who served as administrators or faculty members and those who already understood AI and blockchain systems. The study discovered three main barriers affecting the implementation of these technologies to curb academic fraud; they included: expensive solutions implementation along with shortage of technical skills and opposition from organizational members. The research concluded that AI and blockchain technologies have profound potentials for academic fraud prevention but institutions struggle to use them due to expense limitations and poor infrastructure. Greater implementation of blockchain in universities requires official investment in digital training and subsidized technology purchases and regulatory standards for integration. Future research must examine how these technologies can be applied to various educational settings worldwide for establishing international optimal practices.